The Milwaukee Bucks have started their season at 3-2 after facing off against some tough teams. The Bucks’ injuries have proven to be a challenge. As a result, the Bucks are forced to test their bench depth early in the season.
Season Opener
The first game of the season was a playoff rematch at home against the Brooklyn Nets. The night started off with the raising of the Bucks’ championship banner and ring ceremony. They cruised to a 127-104 win over the Nets, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
Antetokounmpo finished with a double-double, posting 32 points (12-25 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 7-9 FT), 14 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and a steal. Middleton scored 20 points (8-17 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), while adding nine rebounds, three assists and a steal. In addition, Nwora provided a boost off the bench with 15 points (6-13 FG, 3-6 3Pt) and six rebounds.
Kevin Durant and James Harden paved the way for the Nets. However, it was Patty Mills that provided valuable minutes off the bench with 21 points (7-11 FG, 7-7 3Pt). Ultimately, the Nets struggled without Kyrie Irving, who is holding out for personal reasons, and they couldn’t overcome Antetokounmpo. Unfortunately, Jrue Holiday (heel) and Brook Lopez (back) left early in the game.
Bucks Injuries Hard to Overcome
The Bucks were blown out in Miami, losing 137-95 to the Heat. The Heat boasted 40 points in the first quarter and never looked back.
The Bucks struggled in the paint, with Lopez (back), Bobby Portis (hamstring) and Semi Ojeleye (calf) all inactive. In addition, the Bucks were without Holiday. Due to the lack of size up front, the Heat outrebounded the Bucks 58-38. The Heat also shot 53.1% from the field while the Bucks shot just 38.1%.
Antetokounmpo led the team with just 15 points (4-11 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 6-10 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists and three steals. Middleton struggled, scoring only 10 points (4-14 FG, 1-6 3 Pt, 1-1 FT). Grayson Allen looked better this game, adding 14 points, but was just 2-for-8 from beyond the arc.
Tyler Herro led the Heat with 27 points (10-18 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds and five assists. Bam Adebayo was a monster in the paint, scoring 20 points (9-13 FG, 2-5 FT), 13 rebounds, one assist and one steal.
Bucks Bounce Back
In the third game of the season, the Bucks were able to bounce back against the San Antonio Spurs. The Bucks got back in the win column with a 121-111 victory over the Spurs in San Antonio.
Antetokounmpo had 21 points (7-15 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 6-8 FT), eight rebounds, eight assists and three blocks. Shooting seven-for-15 from the field he looked much more comfortable against the Spurs. Middleton finally got hot, leading the team in scoring with 28 points (9-17 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 8-9 FT). In addition, Hill looked great off the bench, posting 15 points and making all three of his three-pointers.
Middleton looked at this win as an important one following the blowout to the Heat.
“Just find a way to bounce back,” he said postgame. “It’s just how you adjust, how you respond to that. I think tonight, for the most part, the effort was in the right place.”
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer also had praise for Antetokounmpo.
“He does everything for us,” he said postgame. “Playing him 37 this early in the season that’s tough. He’s going to need to be in the ice bath for the next couple of days before we play Monday.”
For the Spurs, Doug McDermott led the way with 25 points (9-13 FG, 7-11 3Pt), four rebounds and two assists. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Bucks’ talent, but they will have another chance in a rematch this Saturday in Milwaukee.
The Bucks traveled to Indiana this past Monday and defeated the Indiana Pacers 119-109 for their second win in a row. Antetokounmpo carried the Bucks to victory posting 30 points (10-18 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 10-13 FT), 10 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and a steal. He was one assist away from his first triple-double of the season. In addition, Middleton added 27 points.
Antetokounmpo’s defense was a key factor in maintaining the lead.
“Credit Giannis and just his defensive action there, to get that turnover was big,” Budenholzer said postgame. “He was special in the paint tonight.”
Bucks Injuries Causing Problems
The Bucks’ injuries started to catch up with them against the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Wednesday, as the Timberwolves defeated the Bucks 113-108. The Bucks continued to be without Holliday and Lopez, and the bench failed to step up in this game. They were once again outrebounded 49-43, and they shot just 41.1% from the field compared to the Timberwolves 47.3%.
Despite the loss, Antetokounmpo had his best game of the season, with 40 points (15-23 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 7-9 FT), 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. However, the rest of the team shot just 33.3% from the field.
“We’ve got to figure it out, because obviously there’s going to be times that we’re going to play without them and this was one of those times,” Antetokounmpo said postgame.
It was clear that as good as Antetokounmpo is, he still needs some help around him against solid teams like Minnesota and there wasn’t much of it Wednesday.
The Bucks will look to get back in the win column when they take on the Spurs at home on Saturday.